National Libraries in Arab Countries Urged to Join Arab-Chinese Digital Library

The concluding statement of the meeting stressed the need to activate work of the joint executive committee of Arab-Chinese Digital Library. SPA
The concluding statement of the meeting stressed the need to activate work of the joint executive committee of Arab-Chinese Digital Library. SPA
TT

National Libraries in Arab Countries Urged to Join Arab-Chinese Digital Library

The concluding statement of the meeting stressed the need to activate work of the joint executive committee of Arab-Chinese Digital Library. SPA
The concluding statement of the meeting stressed the need to activate work of the joint executive committee of Arab-Chinese Digital Library. SPA

The 5th session of the Arab-Chinese Library and Information Experts has concluded at the King Abdulaziz Public Library (KAPL) in Riyadh with an agreement to enhance coordination.

Within the framework of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF), held under the theme, "Library Services Transformation Given Changing of Information Environment," the two-day meeting was launched on Tuesday by Deputy Foreign Minister Eng. Waleed bin Abdulkarim El-Kheraiji with the attendance of KAPL General Supervisor Faisal bin Abdulrahman bin Muammar, Arab League ambassador Hala Jad, and Arab and Chinese experts.

The concluding statement of the meeting stressed the need to activate work of the joint executive committee of Arab-Chinese Digital Library, which is made up of representatives of the Secretariat-General of the Arab League, the National Library of China, and KAPL, as a permanent mechanism to enhance coordination among parties and provide support to the project.

The statement called on national libraries in Arab countries which are not yet members in the Arab-Chinese Digital Library to join the cultural project and contribute to enriching its content.

Attendees of the meeting also welcomed the decision to hold the next 6th meeting of the Arab-Chinese Library and Information Experts in China, expressing their gratitude to KAPL for hosting this week's meeting and for its efforts in bolstering the Arab-Chinese cultural cooperation.



Diriyah Art Futures Launches Emerging New Media Artists Program

Located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Diriyah, DAF seeks to establish Riyadh as a global capital of New Media Art. SPA
Located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Diriyah, DAF seeks to establish Riyadh as a global capital of New Media Art. SPA
TT

Diriyah Art Futures Launches Emerging New Media Artists Program

Located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Diriyah, DAF seeks to establish Riyadh as a global capital of New Media Art. SPA
Located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Diriyah, DAF seeks to establish Riyadh as a global capital of New Media Art. SPA

Diriyah Art Futures (DAF), a pioneering new media arts center in Saudi Arabia, has announced the 12 successful applicants to its inaugural Emerging New Media Artists Program, which is launching later this year.
The program includes a diverse array of promising talents representing a broad range of creative practices and backgrounds, with strong representation from Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Running for one year, the fully funded program offers access to cutting-edge professional equipment and facilities, a production budget, learning experiences with international guest specialists in new media art, and personal mentorships from prominent international digital artists.

The inaugural group of emerging new media artists includes:
- Salma Aly (Egypt), specializing in interactive art.
- Samia Dzaïr (Algeria-France), a two-dimensional (2D) and stop-motion animator.
- Aya Abu Ghazaleh (Jordan), a visual artist and art therapist.
- Dhia Dhibi (Tunisia), a multidisciplinary artist, curator and researcher.
- Khaled Makshoush (Saudi Arabia), who specializes in pixel art.
- William Brooks (Wales), an artist exploring sound art through physical objects.
- Haonan He (China), who merges cartography, instrument making, and digital tech.
- Turki Al-Qahtani (Saudi Arabia), a media artist and filmmaker reflecting Arab motifs.
- Youssef El Idrissi (Morocco), a multidisciplinary artist, cultural engineer, and researcher.
- Kyle Donald Marais (South Africa), an extended-reality (XR) developer and creative technologist.
- Mohamed Al Mubarak (Bahrain), a documentary filmmaker and video artist.
- Almuqawil Meshal (Saudi Arabia), an independent artist and curator.

Designed in collaboration with Le Fresnoy-Studio National des Arts Contemporains in France, the program is part of a wider partnership between the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Diriyah Company to facilitate creativity across art, technology, and academia.

Located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Diriyah, DAF seeks to establish Riyadh as a global capital of New Media Art and empower the next generation of creative pioneers.

DAF aims to pioneer new horizons for creative practice in diverse fields where art intersects with science and technology. It was established through an initiative by the Ministry of Culture, standing as the first center dedicated to new media and digital arts in the MENA region.

The center also serves as a space for creators from around the world to collaborate, think, and innovate, focusing on research, documentation, and the production of new inspiring works.

Additionally, DAF provides artists and researchers with an opportunity to participate in its scheduled activities, including public events and educational programs, while also offering them residency programs.

The center seeks to contribute to enriching the Saudi artistic scene and enhancing the Kingdom’s position as a global destination for new media and digital arts. It highlights the talents of active artists in the region, allowing them to leave their impactful mark on art, science, and technology.